Renewable energy consumption in South Africa
South Africa: Renewable energy consumption was 9.7% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Renewable energy consumption in South Africa, 1990–2021
Source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA). Measured in % of total final energy consumption.
Analysis
In 2021, renewable energy consumption in South Africa stood at 9.7%.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, renewable energy consumption in South Africa peaked at 18.6% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 7.6%, in 2014.
South Africa ranks 146th of 212 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 32 years of available data.
Renewable energy consumption in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total final energy consumption | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 16.6% | — |
| 1991 | 17.5% | +5.4% |
| 1992 | 18.4% | +5.1% |
| 1993 | 18.6% | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 18.6% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 18.1% | -2.7% |
| 1996 | 17.4% | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 17.1% | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 17.3% | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 17.7% | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 16.2% | -8.5% |
| 2001 | 15.0% | -7.4% |
| 2002 | 13.3% | -11.3% |
| 2003 | 11.8% | -11.3% |
| 2004 | 11.0% | -6.8% |
| 2005 | 9.7% | -11.8% |
| 2006 | 9.3% | -4.1% |
| 2007 | 8.7% | -6.5% |
| 2008 | 9.7% | +11.5% |
| 2009 | 9.2% | -5.2% |
| 2010 | 9.4% | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 9.0% | -4.3% |
| 2012 | 8.3% | -7.8% |
| 2013 | 7.8% | -6.0% |
| 2014 | 7.6% | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 7.6% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 7.8% | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 7.9% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 8.0% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 8.7% | +8.7% |
| 2020 | 9.8% | +12.6% |
| 2021 | 9.7% | -1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.7% | 16.6% | 18.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.4% | 8.7% | 16.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.2% | 7.6% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.8% | 9.7% | 9.8% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 144 Jamaica 10.5% compare
- 145 Grenada 10.0% compare
- 146 Saint Lucia 9.7% compare
- 148 New Caledonia 9.6% compare
- 149 Argentina 9.2% compare
More energy & mining data for South Africa
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -0.3095 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 17.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is renewable energy consumption in South Africa?
- Renewable energy consumption in South Africa was 9.7% in 2021, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA).
- What is the highest renewable energy consumption recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.6% in 1993.
- What is the lowest renewable energy consumption recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.6% in 2014.
- How does South Africa rank for renewable energy consumption?
- South Africa ranks 146th out of 212 countries with data for 2021.
- Is renewable energy consumption rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA), published as part of Renewable energy consumption (% of total final energy consumption). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Renewable energy consumption is the share of renewable energy in total final energy consumption.